{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T17:39:42Z","timestamp":1790617182167,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"21","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,29]],"date-time":"2022-10-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1667001600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Cells"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Keloids and hypertrophic scars are characterized by abnormal fibroblast activation and proliferation. While their molecular pathogenesis remains unclear, myofibroblasts have been associated with their development. Hippo pathway effectors YAP\/TAZ promote cell proliferation and matrix stiffening. Integrin-linked kinase (ILK), a central component of focal adhesions that mediates cell\u2013matrix interactions, has been linked to tissue repair and fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of key Hippo pathway molecules and ILK in hypertrophic scars and keloids. Methods: YAP\/TAZ, TEAD4, ILK and a-SMA expression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in keloids (n = 55), hypertrophic scars (n = 38) and normal skin (n = 14). Results: The expression of YAP\/TAZ, TEAD4, ILK and a-SMA was higher in fibroblasts of keloids compared to hypertrophic scars while negative in normal skin. There was a significant positive correlation between the expression of ILK and Hippo pathway effectors. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the deregulation of Hippo signaling and ILK are implicated in keloid and hypertrophic scar formation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/cells11213426","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,29]],"date-time":"2022-10-29T23:45:00Z","timestamp":1667087100000},"page":"3426","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":21,"title":["The Role of Hippo Signaling Pathway and ILK in the Pathophysiology of Human Hypertrophic Scars and Keloids: An Immunohistochemical Investigation"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Ilias G.","family":"Petrou","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sofia","family":"Nikou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Rio Patras, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Srinivas","family":"Madduri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9797-5514","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Martha","family":"Nifora","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Histopathology, \u201cSt.-Andrew\u201d General Hospital of Patras, 26332 Patras, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4635-0204","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vasiliki","family":"Bravou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Rio Patras, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Daniel F.","family":"Kalbermatten","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.2119\/molmed.2009.00153","article-title":"Hypertrophic Scarring and Keloids: Pathomechanisms and Current and Emerging Treatment Strategies","volume":"17","author":"Gauglitz","year":"2011","journal-title":"Mol. 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